New Jersey Cardiologists Discuss the Impact of a Study That Finds Women Having a Heart Attack Wait Longer Than Men to Call 911 and Get Help

New Jersey Cardiologists ask: Do you know the symptoms of a heart attack? Many people don’t. Many believe what they’ve seen of people having a heart attack on TV and in movies.

You know what I mean, right? A man has intense chest pain and suddenly clutches at his chest and falls over. Well, that is not even fully accurate for men. Even though chest pain IS a major sign of a heart attack, it is far from the only symptom.

Women often have different heart attack symptoms than men

The simple TV depiction of a heart attack is even worse for women. They, too, may have pain in the center of the chest. However, it may feel more like pressure, squeezing, or fullness than pain. In addition, women are much more likely than men to have:

pain in the back, arms, neck, jaw, or upper body

breaking out in a cold sweat

shortness of breath

abdominal pain

nausea

lightheadedness

sudden feelings of weakness, fatigue, or anxiety

A recent study from the European Heart Journal has found that women tend to ignore these symptoms, and wait far too long before calling for help. The researchers analyzed data from 4,360 patients over a 16 year period. They and found that women wait an average of 37 minutes longer to call 911 than men do.

Every minute counts if you have a heart attack, so CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY

Speaking as the best heart doctors in Bergen County, we urge all of our female patients to learn more about the symptoms of heart attack in women. If you start to notice these symptoms, CALL EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait and hope the symptoms will “clear up” or go away.

Delays in seeking help for a heart attack can literally be fatal. The faster you can get to an emergency room and be treated, the better your chances are of surviving. Speedy treatment can also reduce the amount of damage done to the heart muscle during the attack. This lowers your risk of subsequent heart problems.

To learn more or to schedule a consultation for a heart check with one of our skilled and compassionate doctors, call our offices today at 201-299-4479 or go online. We certainly want to help you keep your heart healthy!

About Us

If you are looking for a heart specialist or vein doctor in Bergen or Hudson counties who will consider your individual needs, you now have a choice. Cross County Cardiology provides each patient with the comprehensive, individualized care that you need with an attitude of respect that you should always expect.